Sure, but I don't expect VR Cloud game streaming for now. What Sony and Microsoft cannot do is pretend that they won't loose marketshare once all of these streaming services go live with games like Assassins Creed, Destiny, Call of Duty, Madden, FIFA, etc. Basically most 3rd party games will eventually show up cloud gaming services, so this is the time to fully commit to VR.

Sure, but I don't expect VR Cloud game streaming for now. What Sony and Microsoft cannot do is pretend that they won't loose marketshare once all of these streaming services go live with games like Assassins Creed, Destiny, Call of Duty, Madden, FIFA, etc. Basically most 3rd party games will eventually show up cloud gaming services, so this is the time to fully commit to VR.

Sure, but I don't expect VR Cloud game streaming for now. What Sony and Microsoft cannot do is pretend that they won't loose marketshare once all of these streaming services go live with games like Assassins Creed, Destiny, Call of Duty, Madden, FIFA, etc. Basically most 3rd party games will eventually show up cloud gaming services, so this is the time to fully commit to VR.

VR over regular 5Ghz wifi doesn't work as it should, too much latency. There are wireless adapters for the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive that support the Wigig standard and that is practically unnotisable. The problem is streaming over the network.

Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Verizon...all massive companies with deep pockets. Just wait until all these services are up and running. They will start spending cash like crazy to secure exclusive content deals and such.

I don't see this happening. This would not benefit them. Instead I see them offering a higher priority service seperate to normal connections for games streaming, for their own service or third party ones.

Nothing. But what's stopping MS or Sony from signing exclusivity deals with third party publishers right now? Same situation.

Only scary thing will be:
1. The transition period where all services are trying to grow. They'll be more aggressive with these kind of deals
2. Amazon, Google, Verizon, etc. don't have a lot of 'Original' content. They'll have to strike more deals or purchase development studios.

Nothing. But what's stopping MS or Sony from signing exclusivity deals with third party publishers right now? Same situation.

Only scary thing will be:
1. The transition period where all services are trying to grow. They'll be more aggressive with these kind of deals
2. Amazon, Google, Verizon, etc. don't have a lot of 'Original' content. They'll have to strike more deals or purchase development studios.

Nothing. But what's stopping MS or Sony from signing exclusivity deals with third party publishers right now? Same situation.

Only scary thing will be:
1. The transition period where all services are trying to grow. They'll be more aggressive with these kind of deals
2. Amazon, Google, Verizon, etc. don't have a lot of 'Original' content. They'll have to strike more deals or purchase development studios.

I think the more classic game companies, so to say, will keep offering digital downloads and physical copies for a long long time. And with the amount of studios Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft have there will be plenty to play there. And not expecting EA, Activision, Ubisoft, etc. to switch to 100% streaming next generation.

But yes, Amazon's and Googles plans for gaming are exciting and scary at the same time.

Community Resettler

The mere idea of a company like Verizon trying to do a game streaming service, something dependent on a steady and consistent connection, just reminds me of this classic.

Yeah, this'll go well. I 'spose download speeds are one thing and upload speeds are another, but Verizon's been flaky about both, and I somehow doubt streaming multiplayer's going to go well with that kind of throttling.

It's maybe happening already. There's plenty of games that are on GamePass but not PlayStation Now, and even more on PS Now that aren't on GamePass (though in that case that appears to be partly down to Microsoft leaning towards curation). It's entirely possible that some of the publishers/developers of those games have signed streaming exclusivity deals.

Even better, they'll all have different selections of multiplatform games, different cross-play set-ups, availability in different countries, different availability across platforms (PC/Android/iOS/proprietary streaming box/OEM streaming box/etc.), different controller compatibility, and many will offer multiple subscription tiers.

That's before we consider that we have been quite fortunate that there hasn't been any collapse of a major online gaming service (OnLive absolutely doesn't count). Services like Steam, PSN and Xbox Live are over a decade old and still preserve purchase information, friends lists, cloud saves, etc. Nintendo have rebuilt their online services a few times, sometimes quite awkwardly, and shuttered a few previously-popular storefronts, but everyone still has theoretical access to what they bought previously.

If there's a lot of competitors in the streaming market, that long run of stable services is going to vanish. One or more competitors will eventually decide it's not worth it and a lot of people are going to lose access to games, saves, and friend lists.

If game streaming really does go mainstream next generation the market is going to be a total mess.

Nothing. But what's stopping MS or Sony from signing exclusivity deals with third party publishers right now? Same situation.

Only scary thing will be:
1. The transition period where all services are trying to grow. They'll be more aggressive with these kind of deals
2. Amazon, Google, Verizon, etc. don't have a lot of 'Original' content. They'll have to strike more deals or purchase development studios.

It's maybe happening already. There's plenty of games that are on GamePass but not PlayStation Now, and even more on PS Now that aren't on GamePass (though in that case that appears to be partly down to Microsoft leaning towards curation). It's entirely possible that some of the publishers/developers of those games have signed streaming exclusivity deals.

Even better, they'll all have different selections of multiplatform games, different cross-play set-ups, availability in different countries, different availability across platforms (PC/Android/iOS/proprietary streaming box/OEM streaming box/etc.), different controller compatibility, and many will offer multiple subscription tiers.

That's before we consider that we have been quite fortunate that there hasn't been any collapse of a major online gaming service (OnLive absolutely doesn't count). Services like Steam, PSN and Xbox Live are over a decade old and still preserve purchase information, friends lists, cloud saves, etc. Nintendo have rebuilt their online services a few times, sometimes quite awkwardly, and shuttered a few previously-popular storefronts, but everyone still has theoretical access to what they bought previously.

If there's a lot of competitors in the streaming market, that long run of stable services is going to vanish. One or more competitors will eventually decide it's not worth it and a lot of people are going to lose access to games, saves, and friend lists.

If game streaming really does go mainstream next generation the market is going to be a total mess.

Sure, but I don't expect VR Cloud game streaming for now. What Sony and Microsoft cannot do is pretend that they won't loose marketshare once all of these streaming services go live with games like Assassins Creed, Destiny, Call of Duty, Madden, FIFA, etc. Basically most 3rd party games will eventually show up cloud gaming services, so this is the time to fully commit to VR.

Everyone knows this, Microsoft knows this, maybe Sony knows this, this is why Microsoft has been spending hundreds of millions on Studios and isn't stopping, Microsoft was almost willing to spends 10s of Billions on EA, that says a lot on how much they are willing to spend in the industry.

I hope the Americans vote in a president that's for net neutrality. It's going to be a lot of work but it can be resurrected from the dead and forced into law. The FCC can't be trusted anymore with something so crucial.

Jesus, I HATE this whole streaming service idea. And it seems everyone's preparing for it right now. Internet isn't that good where I live and funniest thing is, I live in one of the biggest cities in my country (and former capital) in a neighborhood very close to the city centre. Internet here is shit, there's only one internet provider and he refuses to set up a better connection for everyone, even for additional charge.
Same situation with my home city. No real option for good internet connection, parents are moving to way better neighborhood much closer to the city centre as well and internet connection will be even worse. Like... what the hell?

So I'm angry, because I won't benefit from it and I'm scared it will be a thing in the future.
I'm not from the US, just commenting of this current trend of developing streaming services.